Vietnam 2010 rice output up

Rice production this year in Vietnam, the world's second-largest exporter after Thailand, rose 2.7 percent from 2009 to 39.99 million tonnes thanks to an increase in planted area and a higher yield, the government said. Farmers planted a combined 7.51 million hectares (18.56 million acres) for three rice crops this year, up 1 percent from 2009, while the yield rose 1.6 percent to 5.32 tonnes per hectare, the General Statistics Office said in a report.
The Vietnam Food Association, in an initial target, has said exports could drop to 6 million tonnes in 2011.